Athletics Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: The Boxing Bulletin for Boxing Fans!

Greener Grass, Episode 7: Transportation Proclamation

So far, the frog in my pocket and I have looked at potential relocation markets, Bay Area dynamics specifically, San Jose process progress, potential sites in Oaktown, attendance history in Oaktown,  and stadium culture suggestions.

Today we want to talk about the biggest downside to the potential San Jose stadium: Transportation.

Continue reading this post »

9 comments  |  3 recs

Old McPherson is an A, e yi e yi yoooooooo

Photobucket

From a dying Blogfather...

Hey, folks. The CVS/Food Bank event was awesome -- the Food Bank had hoped to collect somewhere between 200-350 pounds from our location, but our charming and articulate kids collected 707 pounds. 67MARQUEZ, gigglingone, and Wes7 showed up to lend their support as well as their cans. I woke up sick Saturday morning and went to bed sicker, which is why I'm crapping out and not writing a new post today.

Dallas McPherson. The next Jack Cust or just another failed journeyman? jeffro offers a snapshot of the A's latest acquisition:

Dallas is a coming to Oakland.

Dude has raked in the minor leagues, but not done so hot in the bigs.

Not so sure about his glove work. Those UZR numbers in the link above seem to swing a bunch though he is a total 10.2 at 3B.

What does AN think? I kind of like the low risk potential high reward.

Between McPherson, Patterson, Everidge, etc. (I refuse to write Chavez off, it tugs at me heart strings so) it seems this is the plan.

Poll
Do you like Old McPherson coming to Oakltown?

  389 votes | Results

175 comments  |  1 recs

Community Prospect List #18

For Reference:

Scout's Mid-Season Top 50. 

Scout's End-Seasn Top 50.

Star-divide

Prospects up for Vote:

Rashun Dixon, OF, Age 18

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH  SF DP  AVG OBP SLG OPS
2008 Azl Athletics Ariz 17 OAK Rk of   45 179 32 47 3 10 8 42 5 2 18 68 1 0 0 3 .263 .328 .525 853
2009 Vancouver Nwst 18 OAK A-     57 196 25 42 7 0 2 16 6 4 23 73 2 0 0 2 .214 .300 .281 581
Minor League Totals - 2 Season(s) 102 375 57 89 10 10 10 58 11 6 41 141 3 0 0 5 .237 .314 .397 711

 

Pedro Figueroa, SP, Age  23

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
KAN (oak) A- 18 10-2 3.23 86.1 89 31 76 0 1.39
STO (oak) A+ 11 3-4 3.56 56.2 62 35 67 0 1.48

 

James Simmons, SP, Age 22 - Video

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
SAC (oak) AAA 23 7-7 5.72 119.2 139 47 81 0 1.55

 

Ben Hornbeck, SP, Age 21

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
MID (oak) AA 1 0-1 16.20 3.1 5 4 1 0 2.70
STO (oak) A+ 21 5-4 3.52 76.2 64 32 111 1 1.25

 

Shane Peterson, OF, Age 21

2009 Stats G Bavg OBP SLG HR RBI SB R 2B
SFD (stl) AA 18 .284 .338 .405 1 7 2 10 4
MID (oak) AA 57 .276 .335 .399 4 24 6 26 14

 

 

Sam Demel, RP, Age - 23 - Video

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
MID (oak) AA 27 0-2 0.61 29.1 23 9 26 11 1.09
SAC (oak) AAA 28 2-3 3.62 32.1 27 21 33 3 1.48

  

Brad Kilby, RP, Age 26 - Video

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
OAK MLB 11 1-0 0.53 17.0 10 4 10 0 0.82
SAC (oak) AAA 45 4-2 2.13 63.1 40 24 77 2 1.01

 

Henry Rodriguez, RP, Age 22 - Video

2009 Stats G W-L ERA IP H BB K SV WHIP
SAC (oak) AAA 37 2-1 5.77 43.2 38 38 71 4 1.74
STO (oak) A+ 3 0-0 0.00 5 3 1 11 0 0.80

A's Community Prospect List

1. Chris Carter, 1B, Age 22 - 76% (of 5) - Video

2. Brett Wallace, 3B, Age 22 - 79% (of 5) - Offense Video  / Defense Video

3. Adrian Cardenas, IF, Age 21 - 75% (of 5) - Video

4. Jemile Weeks, 2B, Age 22 - 36% (of 8) - Video

5. Grant Desme, OF, Age 23 - 29% (of 8) - Video - OmahaHi's case for Grant Desme

6. Grant Green, SS, Age 21 - 32% (of 7) - Video

7. Josh Donaldson, C, Age 23 - 31% (of 7) - Video - DesignatedForAssignment's case for Josh Donaldson

8. Corey Brown, CF, Age 23 - 37% (of 8) - Video

9. Michael Ynoa, SP, Age 17 -  40% (of 8) - Video

10. Sean Doolittle, 1B/OF, Age 22 - 41% (of 8) - Video

11. Arnold Leon, SP, Age 20 - 46% (of 8)

12. Tyson Ross, SP, Age 22 - 23% (of 8) / 42% (Runoff) - Cal Sports Profile Video

13. Fautino De Los Santos, SP, Age 23 - 34% (of 8)

14. Max Stassi, C, Age 18 - 45% (of 8)

15. Anthony Capra, SP, Age 22 - 41% (of 8)

16. Dustin Coleman, SS, Age 22 - 21% (of 8)

17. Brad Kilby, RP, Age 26 - 25% (of 8) Video

Poll
Who is the A's #18 Prospect?

  205 votes | Results

92 comments  |  3 recs

A's Protect Carter, FDLS, Figueroa and Souza from Rule V

The A's selected the following players on November 20, 2009:

The aforementioned players are no longer eligible for the Rule V draft on December 10.  The A's roster now stands at 39.

Poll
Do you agree with the Souza selection?

  100 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

136 comments  |  3 recs

Some things I am "coming around" on...


Well, now that JJ Hardy is all-but-certainly not becoming an Oakland Athletic anytime soon and Billy Beane has all-but-dismissed any intention of signing veteran free agents this winter, it seems like I can now officially move past my admittedly half-baked, crackpot off-season plan and re-evaluate my hopes/thoughts concering these Oakland A's as they prepare for the 2010 season.

At this point, it certainly looks like the organization is not motivated at all to contend next season, and I guess that's a realization that's better accepted now than sometime later in the off-season/beginning of Spring after a winter of nervous/excited rosterbating and rumor-mongering. With that in mind, I'm starting to "come around" on a few ideas that I've seen posted here at AN or other sites in regards to our Green and Gold of 2010 and beyond:

Continue reading this post »

161 comments  |  5 recs

On Trading Catchers....

Fellow ANers,

In the recent ROY award press conference for Andrew Bailey, Billy made it very clear that he views this award as vindication/validation of the A's current youth movement, and that any trades made this offseason will be for more young talent rather than proven veterans.  "We're going to stay disciplined," Billy said Tuesday.  "We're going to go with young players. We want long-term answers, like Andrew."

Now, who knows if the guy is actually telling the truth, or if Billy just decided to throw up a huge smokescreen for the duration of the offseason.  What we do know however, is who's likely to be traded if and when a deal for said youth goes down; Catchers.

To put it mildly, the A's are freaking loaded at the catcher position, and before anyone goes out and gets their shorts in a tussle, Im not advising that Billy trade Zukes. (Errr.....yet!)  Lets look at the depth in the organization at the position.

 

Zukes: Probably at peak value right now.  He will most likely hit around .280 with 15-20 HRs, and has proven himself one of the better catchers in the league handling a staff. (and a ridiculously young and growing staff at that)  I think trading Zukes at this point would hurt the development of the rotation.  However, if Zukes has another great year in 2010, as we all expect, I would not put it past Billy to trade the guy at peak value, especially if those further down the system continue to impress.  The pitchers will be more established at that point, and losing Zukes might not have that great an impact once the young guys are no longer in their 1st or 2nd seasons on the mound.

Last 2 years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS  
 2008 OAK 148 530 54 148 25 1 7 42 44 69 2 3 .279 .346 .370 .716  
 2009 OAK 147 570 74 156 37 1 15 88 28 59 8 2 .274 .313 .421 .734

 

Landon Powell: Shown the ability to hit for some good power if given the opportunity to play full time.  Injury history, especially with the knees, lowers his stock, but he is great in the backup role.  Could also be of value as a switch hitting DH and PH off the bench. (Value at 1B too?)

Last year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS  
 2009 OAK 46 140 19 32 7 0 7 30 14 36 0 0 .229 .297 .429 .725  

 

Josh Donaldson:  After a disappointing showing to start the season in the Midwest League in 2008, 'The Donald' was traded to Oakland as part of the Gaudin/Harden deal.  He took off in Stockton to finish the season strong, and had a good 2009 at AA Midland.  We should expect him to advance to AAA in 2010, with a chance to earn a shot at the bigs at some point in 2011.  In a package deal, Donaldson has real value if Billy decides to go after young talent elsewhere.

stats via thebaseballcube.com

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH  SF DP  AVG OBP SLG OPS
2005 Auburn SEC 19 - NCAA     47 153 20 45 7 0 7 26 0 0 11 34 3   3 3 .294 .347 .477 824
2006 Auburn SEC 20 - NCAA     56 228 39 63 16 1 10 42 1 1 15 41 5   1 3 .276 .331 .487 818
2007 Auburn SEC 21 - NCAA     55 215 63 75 19 0 11 54 17 3 38 27 3   1 5 .349 .444 .591 1035
  Azl Cubs Ariz 21 CHC Rk c   4 11 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 .182 .308 .364 672
  Boise Nwst 21 CHC A- c   49 162 37 56 11 2 9 35 6 2 37 34 2 1 0 1 .346 .470 .605 1075
2008 Peoria Midw 22 CHC A c   63 235 27 51 13 0 6 23 7 1 17 41 2 1 0 0 .217 .276 .349 625
  Stockton Calif 22 OAK A+ c   47 188 37 62 13 2 9 39 0 2 17 29 2 0 0 0 .330 .391 .564 955
2009 Midland Tex 23 OAK AA     124 455 67 123 37 1 9 91 7 2 80 92 1 2 3 2 17  .270 .379 .415 794
Minor League Totals - 3 Season(s) 287 1051 169 294 76 5 33 188 20 8 153 200 7 4 3 3 25  .280 .374 .456 830

 

Max Stassi: Oakland's 2009 4th round pick with 1st round talent.  Has great upside, and his makeup and instincts have been described as off the charts.  Plenty of trade value here should Billy chose to go that route.

Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS
ATH AZL .000 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .500 .000 .500
VAN NOR .286 13 49 3 14 4 0 0 8 18 2 11 0 0 .340 .367 .707
Minors   .280 14 50 3 14 4 0 0 8 18 3 12 0 0 .345 .360 .705

 

Anthony Recker:  Oaklands 2005 18th round selection has been on the track you would expect of an 18th rounder, the slow one.  Nevertheless, the guy has progressed, and there is some value here as a trade chip.

stats via thebaseballcube.com

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH  SF DP  AVG OBP SLG OPS
2002 Alvernia NCAA 18 - NCAA     44 160 41 60 9 1 12 57 9 2 18 33 3   0 2 .375 .443 .669 1112
2005 Vancouver Nwst 21 OAK A- c   43 150 16 35 8 0 5 18 0 0 16 40 2 0 1 0 .233 .315 .387 702
2006 Kane County Midw 22 OAK A c   108 407 52 116 23 3 14 57 6 5 41 115 3 0 0 1 10  .285 .354 .459 813
2007 Stockton Calif 23 OAK A+ c   56 207 39 66 17 2 13 47 2 0 27 48 5 0 0 5 .319 .402 .609 1011
  Midland Tex 23 OAK AA c   58 201 16 41 12 0 4 20 0 1 17 63 1 0 0 0 .204 .269 .323 592
2008 Midland Tex 24 OAK AA c   117 430 57 118 29 4 11 64 1 2 43 140 5 0 2 2 11  .274 .346 .437 783
2009 Midland Tex 25 OAK AA     16 57 11 17 4 0 3 9 0 0 8 22 0 0 0 0 .298 .385 .526 911
  Sacramento PCL 25 OAK AAA     78 272 30 71 11 2 12 45 2 0 28 80 2 0 3 1 .261 .333 .449 782
Minor League Totals - 5 Season(s) 476 1724 221 464 104 11 62 260 11 8 180 508 18 0 6 9 44  .269 .343 .450 793

 

Needless to say, there is a lot in the works at the catcher possition in the A's organization.  Im not saying which one, or more, of these guys should be traded, but it seems pretty clear that if a trade is made Billy will have to look this list over and make some tough choices.

Who do you all think should be used as trade bait?  Would you all be willing to let go of Stassi (or even Zukes) if it meant you could get a guy like Yunel Escobar from the Braves?  I could totally accept a package deal of Green or Ladendorf, and Stassi if it meant we could get back talent like Yunel.  What do you all think?  What about other trades?  I only mention Yunel cause there were rumors at the deadline the A's might have gotten him.  Any good ideas?  Anybody wanna take a stab at who Billy is talking about when he says, "long term [young] answers"?

***UPDATE***

It has been made clear that Stassi and Green cannot be traded until some time next year.  So, would you all be willing to give up Donaldson and/or Recker and/or Zukes etc etc if it meant quality returns in the same class as Escobar?

118 comments  |  1 recs

Community Prospect List #17

For Reference: Scout's Mid-Season Top 50.

Star-divide

Prospects up for Vote:

Matt Spencer, OF, Age 23

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH  SF DP  AVG OBP SLG OPS
2007 Arizona State Pac10 21 - NCAA     55 185 45 70 16 2 8 48 8 2 19 37 5   1 1 .378 .448 .616 1064
  Williamsport NYPL 21 PHI A- of   51 179 21 47 10 0 9 26 3 3 11 46 5 0 1 2 .263 .320 .469 789
2008 Clearwater FSL 22 PHI A+ of   85 307 40 77 12 3 6 42 5 1 30 66 2 0 0 4 .251 .318 .368 686
  Stockton Calif 22 OAK A+ 1b-of   41 169 30 56 12 1 8 27 7 1 6 39 6 0 0 1 .331 .374 .556 930
2009 Stockton Calif 23 OAK A+     30 117 20 32 5 0 10 29 3 1 12 15 0 1 0 1 .274 .338 .573 911
  Midland Tex 23 OAK AA     93 371 59 109 29 3 9 62 2 3 26 75 7 1 0 5 .294 .347 .461 808
Minor League Totals - 3 Season(s) 300 1143 170 321 68 7 42 186 20 9 85 241 20 2 1 13 14  .281 .338 .463 801

 

Pedro Figueroa, SP, Age  23

Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP H9 HR9 BB9 K9 WHIP
2006 Azl Athletics Ariz 20 OAK Rk 2 6 6.07 13 8 0 0 1 0 43.0 59 39 29 4 11 27 2 12.3 0.8 2.3 5.7 1.63
2007 Vancouver Nwst 21 OAK A- 2 2 4.30 17 7 0 0 3 1 44.0 41 26 21 2 31 35 4 8.4 0.4 6.3 7.2 1.64
2008 Vancouver Nwst 22 OAK A- 2 5 3.93 15 15 0 0 0 0 68.2 62 37 30 3 32 77 3 8.1 0.4 4.2 10.1 1.37
2009 Kane County Midw 23 OAK A 10 2 3.23 16 16 0 0 0 0 86.1 89 37 31 6 31 78 6 9.3 0.6 3.2 8.1 1.39
  Stockton Calif 23 OAK A+ 3 4 3.56 11 11 0 0 0 0 65.2 62 27 26 3 35 67 4 8.5 0.4 4.8 9.2 1.48
Minor League Totals - 4 Season(s) 19 19 4.01 72 57 0 0 4 1 307.2 313 166 137 18 140 284 19 9.2 0.5 4.1 8.3 1.47

 

James Simmons, SP, Age 22 - Video

Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP H9 HR9 BB9 K9 WHIP
2005 UC Riverside BigWest 18 - NCAA 3 1 2.95 6 6 1 0 0 36.2 37 17 12 2 4 24 2 9.1 0.5 1.0 5.9 1.12
2006 UC Riverside BigWest 19 - NCAA 9 5 2.96 16 16 0 0 0 109.1 108 47 36 11 19 94 3 8.9 0.9 1.6 7.7 1.16
2007 UC Riverside BigWest 20 - NCAA 11 3 2.40 17 17 5 1 0 123.2 103 48 33 9 15 116 3 7.5 0.7 1.1 8.4 0.95
  Midland Tex 20 OAK AA 0 0 3.94 13 2 0 0 2 0 29.2 36 16 13 2 8 23 0 10.9 0.6 2.4 7.0 1.48
2008 Midland Tex 21 OAK AA 9 6 3.51 25 25 0 0 0 0 136.0 150 58 53 11 32 120 3 9.9 0.7 2.1 7.9 1.34
2009 Sacramento PCL 22 OAK AAA 7 7 5.72 23 22 1 0 0 0 119.2 139 81 76 8 47 81 7 10.5 0.6 3.5 6.1 1.55
Minor League Totals - 3 Season(s) 16 13 4.48 61 49 1 0 2 0 285.1 325 155 142 21 87 224 10 10.3 0.7 2.7 7.1 1.45

 

Ben Hornbeck, SP, Age 21

Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP H9 HR9 BB9 K9 WHIP
2006 Kansas State Big12 18 - NCAA 3 1 1.24 18 1 0 0 1 29.0 22 8 4 3 16 35 2 6.8 0.9 5.0 10.9 1.31
2007 Kansas State Big12 19 - NCAA 2 2 7.22 16 10 0 0 1 52.1 66 44 42 4 28 46 10 11.4 0.7 4.8 7.9 1.80
2008 Kansas State Big12 20 - NCAA 1 1 3.22 13 2 0 0 0 22.1 25 12 8 3 9 17 7 10.1 1.2 3.6 6.9 1.52
  Vancouver Nwst 20 OAK A- 2 2 4.88 18 0 0 0 5 1 31.1 30 18 17 2 18 40 3 8.6 0.6 5.2 11.5 1.53
  Kane County Midw 20 OAK A 1 0 2.25 3 0 0 0 2 0 4.0 3 1 1 0 1 5 1 6.8 0.0 2.3 11.3 1.00
2009 Kane County Midw 21 OAK A 4 0 1.24 7 4 0 0 1 0 36.1 19 6 5 2 10 47 4 4.7 0.5 2.5 11.6 0.80
  Stockton Calif 21 OAK A+ 5 4 3.52 21 11 0 0 3 1 76.2 64 36 30 3 32 111 9 7.5 0.4 3.8 13.0 1.25
  Midland Tex 21 OAK AA 0 1 16.20 1 1 0 0 0 0 3.1 5 7 6 0 4 1 2 13.5 0.0 10.8 2.7 2.70
Minor League Totals - 2 Season(s) 12 7 3.51 50 16 0 0 11 2 151.2 121 68 59 7 65 204 19 7.2 0.4 3.9 12.1 1.23

 

Shane Peterson, OF, Age 21

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH  SF DP  AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 Long Beach State BigWest 18 - NCAA     39 125 12 41 3 2 2 19 2 1 11 19 8   3 2 .328 .411 .432 843
2007 Long Beach State BigWest 19 - NCAA     53 199 40 65 11 3 4 40 11 3 27 27 7   2 4 .327 .418 .472 890
2008 Long Beach State BigWest 20 - NCAA     59 213 52 83 16 2 7 50 10 3 44 47 7   3 1 .390 .506 .582 1088
  Batavia NYPL 20 STL A- of-1b   65 230 35 67 20 2 1 39 3 2 39 65 4 3 0 2 .291 .400 .409 809
2009 Palm Beach FSL 21 STL A+     76 285 32 85 11 4 6 39 10 1 21 52 11 4 0 2 .298 .367 .428 795
  Springfield Tex 21 STL AA     18 74 10 21 4 1 1 7 2 0 5 10 1 0 0 0 .284 .338 .405 743
  Midland Tex 21 OAK AA     57 228 26 63 14 1 4 24 6 0 18 42 3 0 1 2 .276 .335 .399 734
Minor League Totals - 2 Season(s) 216 817 103 236 49 8 12 109 21 3 83 169 19 7 1 6 11  .289 .365 .412 777

 

Sam Demel, RP, Age - 23 - Video

Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP H9 HR9 BB9 K9 WHIP
2005 Texas Christian ConfUSA 19 - NCAA 5 5 4.64 20 12 1 0 1 95.0 97 62 49 5 44 100 5 9.2 0.5 4.2 9.5 1.48
2006 Texas Christian MWC 20 - NCAA 6 6 4.08 23 13 0 0 6 92.2 93 52 42 8 37 100 8 9.0 0.8 3.6 9.7 1.40
2007 Texas Christian MWC 21 - NCAA 7 1 2.17 32 0 0 0 13 49.2 36 17 12 1 17 71 7 6.5 0.2 3.1 12.9 1.07
  Kane County Midw 21 OAK A 0 1 0.96 9 0 0 0 8 4 9.1 3 2 1 0 4 10 2 2.9 0.0 3.9 9.6 0.75
  Stockton Calif 21 OAK A+ 0 0 7.07 11 0 0 0 2 0 14.0 16 16 11 2 15 13 4 10.3 1.3 9.6 8.4 2.21
2008 Stockton Calif 22 OAK A+ 5 2 3.36 54 0 0 0 35 18 67.0 61 31 25 5 32 90 10 8.2 0.7 4.3 12.1 1.39
2009 Midland Tex 23 OAK AA 0 2 0.61 27 0 0 0 23 11 29.1 23 5 2 1 9 26 1 7.1 0.3 2.8 8.0 1.09
  Sacramento PCL 23 OAK AAA 2 3 3.62 28 0 0 0 10 3 32.1 27 14 13 1 21 33 5 7.5 0.3 5.8 9.2 1.48
Minor League Totals - 3 Season(s) 7 8 3.08 129 0 0 0 78 36 152.0 130 68 52 9 81 172 22 7.7 0.5 4.8 10.2 1.39

  

Brad Kilby, RP, Age 26 - Video

Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP H9 HR9 BB9 K9 WHIP
2003 San Jose State WAC 20 - NCAA 1 0 3.21 10 0 0 0 0 14.0 14 5 5 1 5 10 2 9.0 0.6 3.2 6.4 1.36
2004 San Jose State WAC 21 - NCAA 4 1 1.71 25 0 0 0 6 58.0 42 13 11 1 29 46 5 6.5 0.2 4.5 7.1 1.22
2005 San Jose State WAC 22 - NCAA 7 2 1.85 16 8 2 1 1 77.2 60 22 16 5 31 54 1 7.0 0.6 3.6 6.3 1.17
  Vancouver Nwst 22 OAK A- 2 0 1.95 23 0 0 0 14 27.2 20 7 6 2 11 38 1 6.5 0.7 3.6 12.4 1.12
2006 Kane County Midw 23 OAK A 5 1 1.63 49 0 0 0 26 9 60.2 38 13 11 0 23 73 2 5.6 0.0 3.4 10.8 1.01
2007 Stockton Calif 24 OAK A+ 0 0 3.24 7 0 0 0 5 3 8.1 6 5 3 0 6 16 2 6.5 0.0 6.5 17.3 1.44
  Midland Tex 24 OAK AA 3 3 2.88 48 0 0 0 12 0 65.2 63 24 21 6 22 69 1 8.6 0.8 3.0 9.5 1.29
2008 Sacramento PCL 25 OAK AAA 7 2 3.47 51 0 0 0 14 2 70.0 51 33 27 9 26 66 3 6.6 1.2 3.3 8.5 1.10
2009 Sacramento PCL 26 OAK AAA 4 2 2.13 45 0 0 0 6 2 63.1 40 15 15 5 24 77 5 5.7 0.7 3.4 10.9 1.01
  Oakland AL 26 OAK MLB 1 0 0.53 11 1 0 0 1 0 17.0 10 2 1 1 4 20 0 5.3 0.5 2.1 10.6 0.82
Major League Totals - 1 Season(s) 1 0 0.53 11 1 0 0 1 0 17.0 10 2 1 1 4 20 0 5.3 0.5 2.1 10.6 0.82
Minor League Totals - 5 Season(s) 21 8 2.53 223 0 0 0 30 295.2 218 97 83 22 112 339 14 6.6 0.7 3.4 10.3 1.12
Poll
Who is the A's #17 Prospect?

  300 votes | Results

106 comments  |  2 recs

DLD 11/17/09 - Nintendo 64 and a Nerd's top 10 Epic Movie Fights

Inspired by Sunday's release of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii, I will continue in my "series" of Nintendo console DLD's.  If you didn't see in the last DLD, here was the "premiere" of the game in NYC.  BUT I will save the Wii for another Daily Dump, keep your Wii discussions to "should I buy one" only. We can go in depth IF you want later.

Next up is the Nintendo 64.  Ah 1996, such a good year :-)

 

 

Poll
Should I rent "They Live"?

  36 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

162 comments  |  3 recs

A's ink 10 year deal with KTRB 860 am

Link

The news Nico and his tin foil antenna have been waiting for: the A's have inked a deal with Xtra Sports 860 am to broadcast up to 20 spring training games, plus the entire 162 game season and any post season games, through 2019.

Let's hope Xtra Sports will sign Marty Lurie to 10 year deal also.

No word yet if Miller Genuine Draft has signed on to run it's jingle for the next 10 years also.

65 comments  |  1 recs

Huston Street and the Blown Save

Fellow ANers,

It would appear, as a relatively new member of this community, that I have unknowingly stepped into the middle of an ongoing debate with regard to the legitimacy of Blown Saves.  Personally,  I am very interested in any and all reasonable arguments on either side of the spectrum, but currently I stand with the belief that blown saves are significant.  (By the way, some sites do track the stat, including YahooSports.) 

For my part, this whole conversation got started with this years ROY award going to Andrew Bailey.  Almost immediately, parallels were drawn between Bailey and former Oakland Athletic Huston Street.  I happen to feel that comparison is unfair to both players.  Its unfair to Street, because he has proven longevity at the closer position in the bigs, and thats no small feat.  It's unfair to Bailey, because he technically had a better rookie year than Street, and doesn't have a penchant for Blown Saves (and crucial ones at that).  And there in lies the controversy, at least for my part, that got this conversation going.

Some in this community believe "that blown saves are irrelevant", some in this community believe Huston Street was a good closer as an Athletic, and some in this community believe both of those things.  I, with no disrespect to anyone here, do not, on either account.  I don't even think he was average, and for me his penchant for Blown Saves bears that out.

Lets look at the facts, shall we?  During his time in Oakland, Huston Street had 27 blown saves in 121 regular season opportunities.  That means Huston only saved 77.69% of his opportunities; It also means he blew almost one fourth of his chances, depending on how you look at it.  IMO that is outrageous, and well, well below even average for the league.  Hence, my feelings on Street.

***UPDATE*** [Because Micdog wanted more stats] ***UPDATE***

Here are some other players to compare.  Players listed are those whose careers began after SVO becam a tracked stat.  Older players like Mariano don't have career SVO totals, but these are closers your all familiar with from across the spectrum.

Eric Gane: 187 SV, 204 SVO, 91.66%

Joe Nathan: 247 SV, 276 SVO, 89.49%

Francisco Rodriguez 243 SV, 283 SVO, 85.86%

Brad Lidge: 195 SV, 233 SVO, 83.69%

Francisco Cordero 250 SV, 306 SVO, 81.69%

Huston Street 129 SV 158 SVO, 81.65%  [In Oakland: 94 SV, 121 SVO, 77.69%]

***END OF UPDATE***

By the way, while Street did have one of his best years in the bigs with the Rockies last season, saving 35 and only blowing 2 regular season games, it seems he still cant hold/save the biggest games......

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/10/13/street.rockies.ap/

Sounds all to familiar doesn't it.  At least it wasn't another 'no doubter' into the stratosphere, right? (Ahem 2006!) That ball is still in the air somewhere over Eastern Europe I think.

As for the legitimacy of Blown Saves, I really am interested in arguments to the contrary.  IMO the legitimacy of a certain statistic should not be called into question simply because there are a few instances in which the accumulation of said stat may seem harsh or unfair.  Sure there are ridiculous ways that an individual pitcher can pick up a blown save, but IMO the vast majority of blown saves are just regular, run-of-the-mill, Brad Lidge type blown saves.  A closer comes in in the 9th inning with a three run or less lead, and just blows it.  Maybe he catches a bad bounce or two (these things happen), or maybe he gets shelled, either way the save is blown and its significant cause there is rarely recovery possible;  The game is usually over, and in the end thats what its all about (yes bbgirl), Ws and Ls, with blown saves most often leading directly to the latter.

Sure, Blown Saves may not be the "be-all-to-end-all" statistic for closers, but it certainly seems significant to me.  I really am interested in all opinions here, so open my eyes to your truth on this matter, and maybe we can all kick the ball forward in this debate.

61 comments  |  1 recs


Managers

Tyler_at_maya_school_small Tyler Bleszinski

08-_the_author_small 67MARQUEZ

Baseball_small baseballgirl

Poochini-butt_in_box_2_small Nico

As_kings_cal_small louismg

Editors

Countdown_small Taj Adib

Ziegler160px_small Flashfire

527918550406_0_bg_small notsellingjeans